Pipe jack



Jan. 21, 1941.

H. W. BLACKMAN PIPE JACK Filed Feb. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.6

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1941.

H. w. BLACKMAN PIPE JACK Filed Feb. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INPIENTOR HUE) w BLAc/r/ /Y f? WW ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe jacks, and has for an object the provision of an improved device of the character designated for pushing a pipe through the ground underneath streets, sidewalks, other pipe lines, and the like, and thus avoid tearing up the intervening ground to form a trench in which to lay the pipe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe jack which will push the pipe through the ground and during the forward stroke impart rotary motion to the pipe so that it acts as an auger, thus causing it to run true and requiring much less force to push it forward.

Another object of my invention is toprovide, in apparatus of the character designated, an improved chuck which may be used either as a pipe jack or as a fishing device for recovering lost tools from drilling wells.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe jack in which the chuck, while held firmly to its work in its frame, may nevertheless be easily removed therefrom, either for the purpose of reversing it so as to extract a pipe already pushed through the ground, or for the purpose of using it as a fishing device.

Briefly, my invention comprises a chuck having longitudinally extending slots therein which decrease in depth from end to end thereof, and in which are slidably disposed serrated work engaging jaws. When used for pushing a pipe through the ground the chuck is located in a frame having lever means for reciprocating the chuck to cause the work engaging jaws to engage with and be released from the pipe or other work and advance it. Embodied in the frame are side members which cooperate with the chuck to impart to it a rotary motion as it pushes the pipe through the earth and thus cause the pipe to go straight and to be more easily advanced. If it be desired to employ the chuck as a fishing tool, it may be removed from the frame and reversed, and a bail and guide attached thereto whereby it may be lowered into a well and caused to grapple and engage a lost tool.

Apparatus embodying the foregoing and other features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this .application, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view-taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the chuck drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the chuck;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the chuck jaws; and

Fig. 7 is a side view of the chuck illustrating its use as a fishing tool.

Referring to the drawings, my improved jack embodies a frame comprising parallel side Walls l2 and I3, joined at the ends by webs l4 and I6, having holes I! and [8 through which a pipe l0, representing the work, is inserted. At the rear end of the frame the side walls l2 and I3 rise upwardly, as at l9 and 2|. Pivotally supported between the wall portions I9 and 2| by a pin 22 is a lever arm 23 having an upwardly extending handle portion 2d. At its lower end the lever arm is provided with a pair of depending yoke arms 26 and 21, each of which has a rounded recess 28 therein. Loosely carried in each recess 28 is the ball end 29 of a push rod 3 l, which rods transmit reciprocatory motion to the chuck 32, as will be more fully explained. A pin 33 passes through an enlarged hole 34 in each ball end 29 and through each of the yoke arms 26 and 21, to permit the rods to twist without binding when the chuck is pushed forward.

The chuck 32, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 3,4, and 5, is in the form of a cylinder having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 36 therein, which decrease in depth rearwardly from end to end, the forward end of the chuck being considered as the one in the direction in which the work is to be pushed. Located in each of the slots 35 is a work engaging jaw 31, said jaws being serrated, as shown in Fig. 4, the better to engage the work. The jaws are held in place in the chuck by means of plates 38 and 39 at each end thereof. A set screw 40 passes through the plate 39 at the forward end of the chuck, opposite each of the jaws 31, whereby the jaws may be set to limit the longitudinal travel in the slots to that necessary only to engage and disengage each size pipe being handled. A jambnut 45 holds the set screw 40 in adjusted position. Preferably each of the slots 36 is undercut to provide lateral recesses 4|, and the work engaging jaws 31 are provided with complemental shoulders 42 fitting into the recesses whereby the jaws are prevented from falling inwardly of the chuck 32 when it is being handled without any work being in it.

On each side of the chuck 32 at the rearward end thereof there is provided a spherical recess 43 in which fits the forward spherical end 44 of push rod 3|. The plate 38 is formed in halves, as seen in Fig. 5, and at the juncture of the halves are formed holes 45 through which the rods 3| pass and through which the rods can not be withdrawn without first removing the plate. The chuck 32 is thus pushed forwardly by reason of the bearing of the ball ends 44 in the recesses 43, and pulled rearwardly by the ball ends 44 engaging with the sides of the holes 45 in the plates 38.

On each side of the chuck 32 there is provided a bearing member comprising a stud 41 which screws into the side of the chuck and which carries a rotary bearing 48. The side members l2 and I3 of the frame are provided with oppositely inclined slots 49 and 5!, in which the bearings 43 are located, so that as the chuck 32 is reciprocated, there is imparted to it a rotary motion.

In event it is desired to use the chuck member 32 as a fishing device for well drilling tools, it may be removed from the frame by unscrewing the bearing members t? and disengaging it from the rods 3| by removing the split plate 38. In place of .the split plate 38 there is placed on the end of the chuck a plate 52 embodying a flaring guide 53, to which is attached a bail 54 of suitable length, by means of a ring 55 embracing the guide. By the means shown, the chuck may be lowered into the well and the lost tool guided into the open end of the cylindrical chuck 32 by the guide member 53 where it is engaged by the work engaging jaws 31. It will be seen that in this work the chuck 32 is acting in the opposite direction from that previously described with respect to the power applied to it, in that it is pulling the work toward the point of power application. Consequently its position is reversed from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, so that the work engaging jaws 37 may grip the work.

From the foregoing, the operation of my improved pipe jack will be readily understood. When used to push a pipe through the ground, as across the street underneath paving, a trench is dug from which the pipe is to be started, and the frame is anchored by any suitable means, such as by cribbing (not shown) located in the trench. The pipe I0 is next inserted through the open chuck 32, and may be provided with a pointed or auger end 56 so that it may more easily penetrate the earth. The chuck is then reciprocated by means of the lever arms 24. As the chuck moves rearwardly on. the pipe l0, it will be seen that the work engaging jaws 3'! will drag over the surface of the pipe, due to the increasing depth of the slots 36 in the forward direction of the chuck 32 and the chuck will rotate with respect to the pipe. As the chuck is moved forwardly, the work engaging jaws 31 are caused to move rearwardly in the slots 36 relative to the chuck body and to engage the pipe to push it forwardly. As the chuck moves forwardly in the frame, the bearing members 48 in the slots 49 and 5| impart to the chuck and to the pipe a rotary motion, which rotates the pipe and causes the end 56 to proceed straight through the earth. I have pushed pipe, without material deviation from the starting direction, a distanceof fifty feet through earth comprised of heavy clay and gravel, which would otherwise have caused the pipe to be turned away from a direct course.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved pipe jack which is simple of construction and operation, and which is adapted to engage the work readily and ad- Vance it with a forward rotary motion.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a chuck having a plurality of longitudinal slots decreasing in. depth from end to end thereof, tapered work engaging jaws slidably mounted in the slots, a frame for the chuck having members extending on each side of the chuck with oppositely inclined slots therein, bearing members carried by the chuck and fitting in the inclined slots, and means to reciprocate the chuck in the frame to engage the jaws with and release them from the Work and cause the Work to be advanced with a rotary motion.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a chuck having a plurality of longitudinal slots decreasing in depth from end to end thereof, tapered Work engaging jaws slidably mounted in the slots, adjusting means for limiting the travel of the jaws in the slots, a frame for the chuck having members extending on each side of the chuck with oppositely inclined slots therein, bearing members carried by the chuck and fitting in the inclined slots, and means to reciprocate the chuck in the frame to engage the jaws with and release them from the work a;d cause the work to be advanced with a rotary motion.

3. A pipe jack comprising a frame having parallel side walls, a chuck mounted between the side walls in pipe driving position, a lever pivotally mounted between the side walls to reciprocate the chuck, a universal joint connection between the lever and the chuck, there being oppositely inclined elongated slots in the side walls, bearings on the chuck adapted to fit within said slots to impart rotary motion to the chuck during reciprocation, and jaws in the chuck-t0 push and rotate the pipe during forward reciprocation and to release it during rearward reciprocation.

HUEY W. BLACKMAN. 

